Vehicle suspension device



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,170

T. J. FAY

VEHICLE SUSPENSION DEVICE Filed April 30. 1927 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES QFF THOMAS J. FAY, 01E BROOKLYN, NEV] YORK.

VEHICLE susrnlvsron nnvrcn.

- Application filed. April 30, 192*. Serial No. 137,8 l0.

This invention relates to vehicles and to the control of the relative movements between the chassis frame and axle, and particularly to such devices as are disclosed in 6 my copending applications Serial #723,397 filed December th, 1925, patented June 7, 1927, Patent No. 1,631,808, and Serial #181,107 filed April 5th, 1927, and is an improvement upon the structures shown and described therein.

The principal disadvantages of prior devices for controlling movements of a vehicle are that when they are effective in their control they so restrict the movements of a vehicle that the riding qualities thereof are not materially bettered. They fall short of obtaining the most desirable results owing to the fact that they restrict the permissible and desirable relative motion between the chassis frame and axle as well-as the urn desirable movement and particularly snub the desirable as Well as control the nudesirable motion.

In my prior applications I have shown and described various means for obtaining the desired qualities of ease in riding, but such devices as there described must generally be. constructed for each individualvehicle to which they are to be applied. It is the purpose of this invention to provide such a device which will produce the desired riding qualities in a vehicle, which may be of substantially standard construction and which may be readily packed and'shipped for commercial transportation.

It is an object of this invention to pro vide such a device which will suspend the vehicle in a manner that'the suspension is suiiiciently sensitive to absorb minor shocks and yet prevent excessive bouncing and other sudden relative movements of the chassis frame and axle when travelling over relatively rough roadways. It is also an object of this invention to provide such a device which is readlly attachable to vehicles without material change to their structure inshipping and installing I secure the two shackles together by means of a pair of removable members which may be secured to the shackles and to each other and which carry an abutn'ient surface for contacting with the spare tire.

Various other features and advantages will be apparent from the'following description of an embodiment ofthis invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of a vehicle constructed in accordance with this and illustrat ng one embodiment invention thereof 2 is a-rear elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 1s a perspective of the attachment involved in this lnventlon and removed from the vehicle.

In my copending applications above referred to I have described devices somewhat similar to this invention, one ,of which necessitates a slight change in the spring and shackle devices such as are usually employed in automotive construction and in the other thereof I have shown a device which may spring element 3 is also connected at a point intermediate of its length to the axle housmg 5 1n the usual manner, such as clamping devices 6.

The usual rear shackles connect the rear ends of the springs 3 to the ends of the side chassis members 1.

These shackle members comprise an outer link 7 which is bored at its extremities to receive two shackle pins 8 and 9, one of which extends through the usual opening through the end of the frame member and the other of which extends through a hushed end of the springs 8, the link forming a swinging connection therebetween.

Instead of the usual inner links which would Ordinarily correspond to link: 7 and connect the inner ends of the pins 8 and 9, special inner links 10 are provided upon each side which have downwardly projecting arms ll, which arms are bent inwardly at right angles toward the con -i' of the vehicle and terminate in end portions 12 at a point slightly beyond the center of the vehicle. The arms 11 are oi? such length that the ends 12 thereof overlap when the inner links 10 are attached and held. in position by the shackle bolts 8 and 9. The ends may be conveniently secured together by means bolts 18 and a top wear-plate or abutment plate lei may be provided into which the heads oi bolts 13 may be countersunk to provide a smooth abutment surface and to provide greater strength and Iigl ity. It is to be noted that the wear-plate l t and the end portions 12 ot the arms 11 are oi greater width than the remaining portions the links 10, although it is ohvious that it so desired the links and arms 11 may he of the same width and only the wear-plate l l constituting the abutment surface may be 0t greater width.

The usual spare tire 15 is detach-ably mounted upon a ring 16 supported by two arms ii carried by the frame 1. The links 10 are proportioned and have arms 11 bent in such a manner that the end portions 12 and the plate l i abut the lower portion ot the periphery of the spare tire. It has been found desirable to incline the abutment plate l l which contacts with the tire i5, so that there will be a wedging motion between the abutment plate 14 and the tire 15 whenever there is a relative motion between the spring elements 3 and the chassis frame, which motion will obviously produce a rotative motion of the shackle connections and the wear-plate 1e. about the upper shackle bolts 8, as pivots. It has been found t at this wedgedike action is particularly tive in controlling and smoothing out move ments oi the vehicle, caused by irregularities of the roadway, without sudden and violent shocks and jars to the occupants of the vehicle.

It will be obvious that various chan es in tl c details which have been herein described and illustrated for the purpose oi? explaining the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of this invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln a vehicle, a chassis frame, an axle, suspension elements on each side of the vehicle connected at one end to the frame, at an intermediate point to the axle, and at its other end by a shackle device to the frame, a pneumatic tire carried by the frame between said elements, a pair of dotachable members connecting said shackle 0 devices at each side of the fre 1e, and hav ing an aliiutment surface thereon disposed adjacent to the tire whereby upon movement oi the chassis trams relatively to the sus pension elei'nents, said abutment surjtace will contact with said tirv, and means for securing said members tog an i 2. In a vehicle, a chassis suspension elemets on each l hicle connected at who end to the tray point intermediate of its lei h to the s c, and at one end to the chassis frame, by a shackle device disposed betv-xcrn the suspension element and the ch: anie, each device including a link haw mg an arm e.\i tending iillGlGfl'Oll'l toward t re center of the chassis frame, said links bein secured together at their ends and hr 8 iii a nient surface thcreo and a resilient de-. .ce carried by the chili, trame and engagin with said abutment surface whereby re movements of the 'Erine. and axle Wu; resisted by said res" Ient device.

3. ln a vehicle, a chassis tr me a suspension element at each side or hicle, connected at one end to the an intermediate point to the axle a other end by a swinging shackle cevicc the frame, a pneumatic tire carried 3y the frame between said suspension elcu'ients, a link connected at ach of said sl'aacl'io do vices and adapted to s 1g thereuith and having arms extending the from tow rd the center oi the vehicle a d disposed ad acent to said tire for movemein int.) contact therewith upon relative inoveimnts 0? said frame and said axle, and means securin said arms rigidly togetlu el. ln vehicle, 2: chars t a suspension element a each hicle, connected at one end to he an intermediate poi; to the a other end by a swin lng sha' I the frame, a pneumatic tire carried frame between said suspension link connected to each of said vices and adapted to swing the having arms extending therefrom the center of the vehicle havi Y a plate attached thereto and to said tire tor movement c With upon relative movements of and said axle and means for s arms rigidly together.

In witness whereof, hereunto subsctibc my signature.

llH)

THOMAS J. 

